Hebron and Jerusalem 1920-1940*

1920-1922 After WWI, the Jews of Hebron returned to Israel, but most of them preferred to live in Jerusalem, rather than in Hebron. An attempt was made to re-establish the yeshiva, Torat Emet, in Hebron, but it proved to be infeasible, and instead it was re-established in Jerusalem.

1922 – R M. Mendel Naeh re-established the Kolel Chasidut that was previously learning in the Tzemach Tzedek synagogue, and twenty or more young Torah scholars began to learn Chasidut there roughly two hours per day, with a stipend. This continued at least though 1938, and the Rebbe Rayatz expressed much detailed interest in this yeshiva.

1922-1929 The administration of Kolel Chabad, which oversaw all Chabad activities in Hebron and Jerusalem, requested from the Rebbe Rayatz, son of the Rebbe Rashab, to accept the directorship of the Kolel. However, the Rebbe was very involved with the struggle against the Bolshevik government which sought to eradicate Judaism in Russia, and the communication between Russia and Israel was intermittent at best. Not until 1929, when the Rebbe visited Israel, including Hebron and Jerusalem, did he formally accept the presidency of Kolel Chabad.

1929 – Barely a month after the visit of the Rebbe Rayatz, the Mufti of Jerusalem instigated riots in Hebron and Jersualem. The Arabs of Hebron rioted and massacred scores of Jews, including notables from the Chabad congregation. At that point, the remaining Jews of Hebron abandoned the city, many of them settling in Jerusalem. This effectively brought to an end the Chabad settlement in Hebron.

1938 – The Rebbe Rayatz initiated the formation of a Chabad yeshiva in Tel Aviv, by the name of Achei Tmimim

*Information on this page is taken from “Toldot Chabad in the Holy Land: 1777-1950, by R’ Shalom Dov Ber Levin